Category:

Infant Formula

Whatever your reasons for choosing or needing formula for your baby, the options can often be overwhelming. Hospitals and doctors send new parents home with samples, other parents offer opinions, and every store seems to have its own brand. Being vegan can add to the confusion. Generation Veggie has created this comprehensive list to help you make the best choice for your family. Please note that NO infant formulas available in the United States are completely vegan; all contain animal-derived vitamin D3.Sometimes in our non-vegan world, completely animal-friendly alternatives are simply not available. Thankfully, children generally start eating solid foods within the first year of life and will usually transition away from formula relatively quickly.

We are pleased to offer this list of formulas that do not use cow’s milk. We researched 20 brands from both national and private (i.e., generic) labels. For our comparison, all inquiries focused on powdered, soy-based formulas with iron. (Please note that there are also dairy-free, amino acid-based formulas available; these, however, are prescribed only when medically necessary, and are not designed for the needs of a typical infant.) All of the brands researched have a soy-based protein source; all but one (Baby’s Only Organic, which uses brown rice syrup) have a corn-based carbohydrate source. Some are organic; most are conventionally sourced.

*Perrigo manufactures both a conventional and organic soy-based formula. Their conventional option is distributed by most of the major retailers—e.g., Target, Walmart, Kmart, Safeway, CVS—and their organic formula is sold under Hains Celestial’s Earth’s Best label, as well as their own label Vermont Organics. While Whole Foods’ answer to our inquiry was unclear—“Due to confidentiality agreements, we are unable to disclose the identity of the manufacturer of our 365 and Whole Foods Brand products.”—our research indicates that they, too, sell the Perrigo product. (They have neither confirmed nor denied this information.)

**An important note regarding infant formula and the practice of animal testing: No matter what position a company takes on the subject of animal testing, all infant formula manufacturers are mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Infant Formula Act (21 CFR 106) to conduct an initial Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) test during the research and development phase, as well as when there are any significant changes to ingredients and/or nutrition. PER testing is used as the basis for evaluating the protein in a food, whereby laboratory rats are fed the particular food being tested during a 4-week testing period. Weight gain divided by the intake of the particular food’s protein content is then assessed to guarantee that the laboratory animal’s response to the protein is appropriate. Some companies strive to eliminate animal testing except when required by law. Others are not as explicit in their corporate goals. Please use the information on this page as a guideline only.

The choices we make for our children are endless. Being vegetarian or vegan only adds another layer to the decision-making process but, with the proper information, we can make sure that our choices are the kindest, most ethical possible. Know of animal-friendly option not on this list, or curious about a brand we missed? Please contact us.